bharal-abundance

Trends in abundance of bharal Pseudois nayaur in the Kibber region, Spiti Valley, India. The population was monitored one to several times each year during spring and autumn, periods when herds are congregated. Figures presented are maximum counts for a given year. Dashed arrow on the left indicates the establishment of a 500 ha village reserve or grazing set aside in the area, which was then expanded to 2000 ha in 2004 (arrow on the right) to cover about 20% of the total grazing land of the village. The spike in bharal population seen in 2012 was possibly caused by the temporary movement of a few herds into the area from an adjoining region (separated from the Kibber region by a deep gorge and stream).